Smokeless-powder charge.



C. GERDOM.

SMUKELESS POWDER CHARGE. APPucATlun FILED mhz?. 191s. nsNwEnsEPT.5.19n.

1 ,274,258. Patented July 30, 191B.

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C. GERDDM.

SMOKELESS POWDER CHARGE.

Patented July 30, 1918.

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APPLICATION FILED JMLZI. ISHS RENEWEU SEPT. 5, I9II. 1,274,258.

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CLARENCE GERDOM, 0F FORT HANCOCK, NEW'JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ORDNANCEIMPROVEMENT COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORIL iSMOKELESS-POWDER CHARGE.

Application tiled January 27. 1915, Serial No. 4,615. Renewed September5, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, 'CLARENCE Gannon, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Fort Hancock, county and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in SmokelesS-PowderCharges, of which the following is a spccitication.

My invention relates io the 1mLnufacturc of smokeless powder charges,its object bcing to provide a forni of grain especially adapted for usein breech loading ordnance. l accomplish this by making the `grains indisk torni of such diameter as to lit the powder chamber of theparticular caliber of gun. and of proper thickness,- and otherwise soshaped that `when superposed or built up into proper size for a guncharge, the disks shall be interspaced from each. other and partiallyspaced :from the walls of the` chamber, and alsoflongitudinallyperforated, in a manner similar to other forms of grains.

Another important feature is the providing of an ignition charge ofblack powder to be fitted to the firing charge of smokeless powder justbeforevinsertion into the gun, the black and smokeless powder beingikeptentirely separate at all other times.

ln the accompanying `drawings forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 is-aeide elevation in partial cross section of a charge of myimprovedpowder;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section of one of the grains;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of a series of grains superposed upon cachother showing the ignition charge in place; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a single grain.

l'n` the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a charge of my improved powder madeup ot a series of superposed grains A. and secured together by raw silkribbons 2 passed through openings in the several. disks and tied asshown in Fig. 2. Each grain, (see Fig. 5) is formed preferably with ascalloped edge as shown. the maximum diameter beingsubstantially that ofthe chamber to which the charge is to be fitted. but leaving spacesaround the periphery for the passage of gases in the combustion of thecharge. IThe grain is also pierced longitudinally with a series ofperforations 3 to facilitate Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1918.

serial No. 189.883.

combustion.y and is provided also on on(l face with knobs or bosses 4,and with corresponding sockets or depressions 5 on the reverse sidewhich serve to inter-space the several disks when superi-posed` and alsoto hold them in mutually registering positions. In order to hold them inassembled position for a huilt-up charge. registering openings,preferably ot slittcd form (i. are provided to receive ribbons 2 torholding the grains, thereby dispensing with the bags ordinarily used.lVhen so assembled and secured together the charge of powder can bestored in any desirable way, and be available for instant use.

For the igniting of the charge l provide a cylinder 7 of compressedblack powder, having an axial combustion opening 8, the cylinder beingof such size as to fit into the axial opening 9 in the several disks. Itis obvious that the shape and dimensions of the disks or grains, andignition charge may be varied at will to suit any conditions of use.

It is desirable in the forming of the regis- 1 tering bosses andcorrespondingdepressions or sockets oilE the disks,y in arranging thelongitudinal perforations, and determining the thickness Vof the disks,to maintain throughout the entire charge when assembled as nearly aspossible uniform thicknesses throughout the disks` and also of the wallsor partitions between the perforations, so that the progress ofcombustion shall be substantially uniform throughout the charge.

In the shaping of my improved form of smokeless powder grain thecompression of the colloidal mass, adds to the density and strength ofthe finished grains. thereby making them less liable to breakage, andthe grains being of such diameter as to prac tically occupy the fulldiameter of the chamber are less liable to breakage from impact upon thewalls.y than with other forms of grains.

While the preferred shape of the powder grains is that of asubstantially plane surfaced disk, if desired they may be spherically orotherwise curved, or varied in other particulars, from a true plane andstill embody the gist of my invention, which consists in making thepowder grains of such shape that they may be assembled in a charge whichas a Whole shall ron't'orni to the chamber oll the gun, and providedwith continuous, longitudinal and lateral gas passages therethrough.

Having thus described my invention, what l clailn and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A gun charge ot smokeless powder comprising a series ot unit grainsassunhled and detaehahly bound together in colleetive forni to fit thegun chamber,y having eontinuous longitudinal and lateral gas passagestherethrough, and provided with an ignition powder element extendinglongitudinally therethrough.

2. A gun charge of .smokeless powder romprising a series ofinterloelied, inter spared, superposed,y unit dish' grains detaohalilyhound together in eolleetire l'orni to fit the gun chamber` havingcontinuons lonY gitudinal gas passages tlnretl]rough7 and having :inignition powder element. in the l'orin ot a hollow cylinder fittingloosrliy in a longitudinal opening theretln'ongh.

A smokeless powder Charge,y Comprisw ing similar interlocked grains,tying devices confining them in assembled position, and an ignitioncharge removablyY arranged therein.

4. A smokeless powder charge made up of similar interloked grainsarranged in a mass fitted to the gun eliamher. tying devices therefor,and an ignition charge arranged axially therein.

5. A smokeless powder Charge Comprising.` a series of interlockingdislelike grains` tying devices confining them in assembled position andan ignition Charge removablyY arranged therein.

6. A two-part gun charge comprising a propulsive element of smokelesspowder ve cent grains eonlined in a mass to tit the gun chamber, and adistinct independent ignition elennnit oill lilaelt powder arranged as acore therein und extending longitudinalinY substantially therethrough.

7. A powder charge eoinprising two elements, viz: a proinilsive element`made up of smokeless powder grains oonlinod in n homogeneousl nnlss tofitv the gun Chamber and :in ignition element arranged as a. eorrtherein and extending longitudinally soli-- stanti ally therethrough.

8. A two-part powder eli-rtree eoniln'ising a. propulsive element ofsmokeless, powder grains confined in a mass to titV the gun ehaniher anda seit-contained independent ignition charge arranged longitudinalljirtherein.

Si. A two part ponder charge roinprising- :i propnlsire eleipenl otsrnilceless powder grains confined in a honiogeneons mass adapted to lit:i gnn-ehainher and an inde pendent ignition rliarge extending lungitudinallyv snbstantialli' therethrough and itself having a tree airpassage extending longitudinally therethrough.

10. A two part power charge comprising a propulsive element of smokelesspowder grains confined in a mass adapted to fit a gun-chamber and anindependent ignition charge extending longitudinallyT substantiallytherethrough and itself having a tree air passage extendinglongitudinalli7 therethrough.

Signed hlonniouth and State of New Jersey. 23d dag7 ol January, 1915,

CLARENCE GERDOM.

at Highlands. in the county ol this llVitnesses:

WALTER V. STANTON, THos. A. STANTON.

s each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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